Accra, Dec. 15, GNA – GIZ, Germany’s leading provider of international cooperation services, has presented 15 motor bikes with helmets to the Ghana Police Service to help strengthen its community policing.
It also donated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment including 57 each of laptops, projectors and project screens, and Public Address (PA) systems.
The presentation formed part of GIZ’s programme, dubbed: “Programme to Build and Strengthen the Police Structures in selected Partner Countries in Africa,” which focus on three areas namely; training system, accountability, and community policing.
Mr Mortiz Fischer, a Representative from the German Embassy in Accra, said there could not be development without security as the two were closely linked.
He said Germany supported the strengthening of legitimised and accountable civilian police structures, which met professional standards as well as enjoyed public trust.
Mr Philipp Niehenke, a GIZ Country Component Manager for the Police Programme, said the items constituted an important building block to further support the Community Policing Unit in Ghana to effectively perform their duties.
“We are confident that this investment, together with other measures, which were jointly planned like the community policing strategy, a tailor-made training course and updated information material and formats for community work, will contribute to a closer interaction between the Police and communities to establish trust and improve crime prevention,“ he said.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr Nathan Kofi Boakye, the Director General in charge of Legal and Prosecution of the Ghana Police Service, who received the items, expressed gratitude to GIZ and the German Government for strengthening the cooperation between Ghana and Germany.
COP Boakye said from the beginning of 2020, the Police Administration had seen effective collaboration and support from the GIZ and would use the equipment to fight armed robbery within communities.
He called for active collaboration between the Police and the communities for effective policing.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Laurencia Akorli, the Director of Community Policing Unit, was optimistic that the items would go a long way to reduce crime for rapid socio-economic growth.
GNA